Consultancy: Support the design of an e-learning course to prevent violence in early childhood in times of COVID-19, and the implementation of an existing course in 2 new language versions, LACRO Panama (4 months)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, education

Background

In the first years of life, children establish the cognitive, emotional, and social foundation upon which they can build their futures. Early childhood is the most significant developmental period of life. A child who is stimulated, continuously engaged in interactive activities, hugged, comforted, and spoken to is more likely to fully develop cognitive, language, physical, emotional, and social skills; all of which are vital for success in school, in the community and subsequently in life. UNICEF advocates for and promotes an integral approach to early childhood development (ECD) that includes, early learning and quality education programmes, maternal and child nutrition, protection, health care interventions and family support services. Providing children and their caregivers adequate multisectoral interventions and special services is determinant for their present and future wellbeing. As part of UNICEF’s commitment to gender equality, ensuring that gender equal norms and socialization patterns are promoted from early childhood – with caregivers and children alike – is equally prioritized. In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, families and young children are experiencing unprecedented challenges and risks. It is necessary to maintain, reinforce and generate all the necessary supports so that parents and caregivers can protect their children and have the necessary conditions and tools to promote their full development, health and wellbeing. To this end, it is essential to continue strengthening the capacities of ECD workforce so that they can accompany and support families. The pandemic has made it necessary to transform the training processes to be available in online modalities, allowing frontline workers to have the tools required to accompany families in COVID context. For this purpose, UNICEF wants to make available two online courses for workers. One is an introductory course on CCD, which is currently available in Spanish on Agora, but uploading its English and Portuguese versions to the digital environment is necessary. And the second course is for training in violence prevention tools through parenting recommendations. For this second course the technical content and the graphic draft have already been prepared by a group of experts. The consultant’s job will be to design the e-learning to bring the contents to a digital environment. The consultant will be expected to work on the design of the course, including interactive elements that meet the technical and design requirements required by the organization (mentioned below). The course will be designed in Spanish and will be implemented in English and Portuguese. Therefore, UNICEF LACRO plans to hire an experienced consultant to support the ECD, Gender and Child Protection teams to design an e-learning course to prevent violence in early childhood, and to support the implementation of the English and Portuguese versions of the existing CCD Introductory course.

Purpose of the assignment

Under the overall guidance of the Regional ECD Manager and in collaboration with his team, the purpose of this consultancy is to design an e-learning course to prevent violence in early childhood, and to support the implementation of the English and Portuguese versions of the existing CCD Introductory course.

How can you make a difference?

Specific Tasks

The consultant will be working on:

• Provide technical advice and technical assistance to LACRO’s ECD, Gender and Protection teams to optimize the use of e-learning strategies to strengthen to strengthen the capacities of ECD frontline workers who work directly with caregivers, families and children in early childhood.
• Implement the English and Portuguese versions of the CCD Introductory online course into the digital environment (Agora.)
• Design and implement the course on prevention of violence in early childhood into the digital environment (Agora.)

Expected Results

The consultant will be working on:

I.  CCD courses in English and Portuguese:

1. Implementation of the text in English and Portuguese in Articulate (UNICEF will provide the texts in both idioms.)
2. Develop a round of revisions (usability piloting) of the course that will include LACRO and countries offices staff.
3. Implementation both courses in Agora openly.

II. VAC prevention in ECD course (8 modules) in English and Spanish:

1. Add pictures in some of the activities of the four modules (using UNICEF photos repository.)
2. Design the learning activities for the modules.
3. Two (2) rounds of revision and implementation of suggestions.
4. Implementation of the course in English and Spanish (UNICEF will provide the texts.)

*Courses design requirements:

• All e-learning must comply with the UNICEF style guide, photography guidelines, and UNICEF Brand Book and Brand Manual 3.1. 
• Course navigation should be intuitive and clear for users with different levels of digital literacy. Especially those components that are prerequisites for the participant to complete the course.
• The course should contain navigation guides explaining how to navigate the course page and the components to complete the learning activities.
• Visual elements such as graphics and multimedia elements should be optimized for online use and low connectivity.
• The e-learning design should be modern and aligned with the courses already designed in the office.
• It should include different ways of presenting information, e.g. infographics to present key ideas, statistics, maps, videos, and avoid long blocks of text to avoid cognitive overload.
• UNICEF is committed to being a role model and producing highly accessible learning resources. We rely on vendors to work with UNICEF to select appropriate technology, define requirements and best practices, and design templates to meet these goals. Our goal is to achieve AA level compliance with WAI (W3C) recommendations. Therefore, the course to be designed must meet the requirements and pass the web accessibility standards. 

Deliverables

Description	Duration [in days]	Expected deadline
(1) CCD online course in English on e-learning environment (Agora)		15 of September 2021
(1) CCD online course in Portuguese on e-learning environment (Agora)		15 of October 2021
(1) VAC prevention in ECD online course in Spanish on e-learning environment (Agora)		30 of October 2021
(1) VAC prevention in ECD online course in English on e-learning environment (Agora)		30 of November 2021

 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

Advanced University degree in early childhood development, education, social sciences, international development or a related field. 

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in an area related to the design of trainings and trainings in digital environments for adults.
• Experience in audiovisual content design and creation.

Languages:

Fluency in Spanish and advance level in English is required.

Technical Knowledge:

• Knowledge learning management systems (Moodle, Totara or blackboard.)
• Capacity to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with RO and CO colleagues and external partners.

Other skills and attributes:

• High level of Integrity and commitment to UNICEF’s mission and professional values.
• Analytical and conceptual ability, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills.
• Strong organizational, planning, and analytical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in Spanish.
• Good judgment, initiative, high sense of responsibility, tact and discretion.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to establish harmonious working relations in a multicultural environment.

*The consultant must be trained in Articulate and Agora (if not already familiar with them) and take the Agora course in accessibility to meet UNICEF standards.

Supervision

The contractor will work under the direct supervision of the ECD LACRO Manager and in close collaboration with the ECD and Protection team.

Duration

This contract is expected to start on September 15, 2021 with an estimated duration of 4 months. 

Workplace

This is a home-based consultancy.

How to Apply

Application should be submitted online and should include: Resume, Cover Letter, Technical and Financial proposal. Qualified candidates are requested to submit daily and monthly fees in their financial proposal.

Travel

There will be no travel involved in this consultancy.

 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

 

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.